Date of publication 24/01/2024
The world's best golf courses: choose your destination
What do the best golf courses in the world have in common? The answer goes beyond technical features, course design, or location. Because golf is more than a physical game. There is always an element of mystery and magnetism that’s impossible to explain: the feeling of rediscovering your favorite sport while deepening your passion for it in the perfect setting. A place you’ll want to return to again and again. Perhaps, during one of those rounds, you’ll look around and realize that everything has come together exactly as it should. In that moment, your senses are fully engaged. The color green becomes a symbol of the sense of well-being that takes over body and mind. You connect with nature and with yourself. And at last, you feel completely at ease.
For these and many other compelling reasons, golf is part of the Iberostar experience, with your enjoyment at the heart of every vacation plan. Here, outdoor living, wellness, and leisure come together in a shared approach to travel, always centered around movement. The good news is that you can combine golf with other active pursuits such as surfing, cycling, or diving. Choosing just one sport in each destination may be the hardest part. From the beaches of the Caribbean to some of the Mediterranean’s most distinctive coastal settings, golf can be part of your travels around the world, with courses connected to hotels and resorts you’ll never want to leave. Ready to discover them?
The Best Places to Play Golf in the Caribbean
The Magic of Golf in Riviera Maya
If you are looking for a place to play golf in the Caribbean, you may have considered Riviera Maya and Cancún, Mexico, as destinations where you can combine meditative exercise and relaxation in the same stay. Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club, in Riviera Maya, is part of the Iberostar Playa Paraiso Resort, made up of five hotels that cater to all types of travelers, from couples and groups of friends to families with children. Its course has been in full swing for more than a decade, during which time it has hosted major events such as the 2016 World Amateur Team Championships, Big Break Mexico, the 2012 Iberostar Riviera Maya Open, the 2018-19 Bupa Match Play-PGA Tour Latinoamérica, and the PGA TOUR OHL Mayakoba Golf Classic, hosting the qualifying round for the latter eleven times.
It was designed by world-renowned golf course architect P. B. Dye and offers the perfect setting for memorable rounds, regardless of your skill level. With multiple tee boxes, rolling fairways, Paspalum grass, and a variety of hazards, the course is designed to challenge and reward players of all abilities. Set in the heart of the jungle and close to some of the Yucatán Peninsula’s most important archaeological sites, including the Pyramid of Chichen Itza, it also provides a unique connection to the surrounding landscape and its rich history. Guests staying at the Iberostar Playa Paraiso complex can choose from a range of golf packages that include transportation from the hotel to the course, golf cart use, tees, access to the practice facilities before play, and snacks and beverages to keep you energized throughout the day.
Greens and Beach in Cancun
Without leaving Mexico, Iberostar Cancun Golf Club also invites you to experience golf and beach in Cancun in a way you will never forget. The club is located between the Caribbean Sea and Nichupté Lagoon, bordered by a spectacular mangrove swamp that is home to numerous species of native animals and plants you will have the opportunity to admire. Designed by Japanese golfer Isao Aoki, this 150-acre championship course offers 18 par-72 holes. The lagoon’s natural inlets have been integrated as water hazards, respecting the area’s emblematic geography. Next to it, the Iberostar Selection Cancun and Iberostar Selection Coral Cancún hotels, inspired by the culture and natural surroundings, complete this idyllic trip with unique coastal corners, exclusive services, and good weather year-round. Add the golf package that best suits you while booking or directly at the hotel to take advantage of all its benefits.
A Paradise for Golfers in Punta Cana
Iberostar Bávaro Golf Club, located in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, is part of the Iberostar Bávaro Resort, considered one of the best All-Inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. From any of its five hotels, including Iberostar Selection Coral Bávaro, which features suite-style accommodations and premium services, you'll have access to this spectacular golf course, open year-round.
The course was designed by P. B. Dye and features 18 par-72 holes. From every angle, players can enjoy panoramic views framed by lush tropical vegetation. Its 105 white silica sand bunkers create a striking contrast with the impeccably maintained Supreme Paspalum fairways and greens. For those looking to take up the game, qualified instructors are available to teach the fundamentals and help beginners get started. The course also includes a practice area and putting green, making it an ideal place for children to learn and practice in a relaxed, family-friendly environment.
A New Hotel in Eagle Beach with Access to a Golf Club
The five-star JOIA Aruba by Iberostar, a luxurious adults-only retreat for golf enthusiasts, will soon open its doors on Eagle Beach. In addition to unwinding in one of its ocean-view suites and enjoying exceptional local and international cuisine across its three restaurants and five bars, guests will also have the opportunity to play their favorite sport at Tierra del Sol, the island’s only professional golf course. This 18-hole course, which has hosted numerous championships, is suitable for golfers of all skill levels, including beginners. It was designed by renowned architect and landscape designer Robert Trent Jones II, creator of some of the world’s most acclaimed golf courses.
The island, located in the Lesser Antilles just off the coast of Venezuela, enjoys warm weather year-round and boasts 42 miles of coastline within its 111 square miles of territory. For all these reasons, Aruba’s idyllic landscapes also make it an ideal destination for a romantic getaway at any time of year, especially when days are balanced between activity and moments of relaxation and disconnection. It’s a destination you’ll love if you and your partner enjoy golf and other active pursuits such as water sports, hiking, and cycling. And if your idea of travel is exploring the world with friends through sports and adventure, Aruba and other corners of the Caribbean will welcome you with open arms.
Golf in Spain, a Course for Every Type of Player
Cádiz, Where Golf Is a Way of Life
Some of Spain’s most prestigious golf courses are concentrated in the south, in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia. Here, golf has become much more than a sport. It is a way of life, deeply connected to nature. Just a five-minute walk from Iberostar Waves Royal Andalus and Iberostar Selection Andalucía Playa, Real Novo Sancti Petri Golf Club welcomes players into its elegant, sun-drenched setting, where golf is at the heart of the experience. Nearby, you can also enjoy tennis, paddle tennis, or croquet, combining sports, wellness, and gastronomy throughout your stay. The professionals at the Novo Sancti Petri Golf Academy are on hand to guide players of all levels, including those picking up a club for the very first time. As with other Iberostar hotels, guests can also add the golf package that best suits their needs when making a reservation.
The club is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, next to La Barrosa Beach in Chiclana de la Frontera, which has earned Blue Flag status along with other awards recognizing its commitment to sustainability. It features 36 par-72 holes divided between two 18-hole courses, as well as a practice area and more than 5 square miles of driving range. Designed by international champion Severiano Ballesteros, every detail was carefully considered: ponds and palm trees line the wide fairways overlooking the ocean, with a design inspired by American-style courses. The club has participated in the Golf Environment's OnCourse® program, which promotes environmental stewardship. It has also received the Recommended Certificate from Leading Courses, one of the most respected references in the golf industry.
Active Vacations in Mallorca
Mallorca is home to 26 golf courses, all of them conveniently connected and within easy reach of one another. They are also located close to some of the Balearic island’s most beautiful beaches and coves, as well as its most interesting cultural and artistic attractions, offering endless possibilities. What if you combined your days on the course with time at the beach and scenic walks around the island? Just ten minutes from Iberostar Selection Llaut Palma, Golf Son Gual, designed by Thomas Himmel, blends classic and contemporary elements in a championship-caliber course stretching 4 miles and featuring 18 holes that integrate seamlessly into the Mediterranean landscape. At the end of the day, you can celebrate with a signature cocktail at sunset on the hotel’s rooftop terrace and enjoy a fusion dining experience with live cooking at Katagi Blau restaurant.
Golf Son Vida, one of Spain’s most distinctive golf courses and the oldest in Mallorca, opened in 1964. Designed by F.W. Hawtree, it draws inspiration from the island’s wooded and coastal landscapes. Its rolling terrain, combined with a mix of narrower and wider holes, creates a course that is both challenging and enjoyable to play. The five-star Iberostar Selection Playa de Palma is located just ten minutes from the club and remains open year-round, allowing guests to unwind with Spa Sensations and the Aliveness program after a day on the course. This guide to golf courses in Mallorca includes many more options located close to your hotel.
Other Golf Destinations Around the World
Nature and Golf at Its Purest in Praia do Forte
Iberostar Praia do Forte Golf Club, located next to a nature reserve in Brazil, is surrounded by a landscape of dunes and lagoons. Views of the Atlantic Ocean provide a spectacular backdrop throughout the course. In fact, the final three holes of its current 9-hole, par-17 layout (the course previously featured 18 holes before being redesigned) run parallel to the beach, offering players an exceptional oceanfront setting.
The greens are wide and highly undulating, with challenging bunkers designed to suit golfers of all skill levels. Like several other premier Iberostar golf courses, Praia do Forte was designed by P. B. Dye, a name synonymous with excellence in course design. Add a golf package to your stay at Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte or Iberostar Waves Bahia and get ready to immerse yourself in your favorite sport within a lush ecosystem shaped by the power of the ocean, an ideal setting for experiencing active travel through every swing.
Montego Bay, a Different Kind of Destination for Golf Lovers
On the island of Jamaica, the Montego Bay area is home to golf courses as distinctive as Tryall Golf Club, an 18-hole course overlooking the turquoise, crystal-clear waters of one of Jamaica’s best beaches. Designed by Ralph Plummer in 1958, its reputation has continued to grow ever since. The layout, known for its unique character, keeps players engaged throughout the round with rolling terrain and greens that are both fun and challenging. One thing to keep in mind: the wind often blows across the course with varying intensity, adding an extra layer of challenge to the game. And afterward? JOIA Rose Hall by Iberostar, Iberostar Selection Rose Hall Suites, and Iberostar Waves Rose Hall Beach form an exclusive All-Inclusive resort located just minutes from Tryall Golf Club, designed for guest comfort and enjoyment, with every amenity needed to relax after a demanding day on the course. The resort’s advisors can arrange your tee times, leaving you free to focus on enjoying the experience.
Whether you've been playing for years or you're getting ready for your very first round and want to book a private beginner's lesson with Iberostar's PGA professionals, each of these destinations offers a renowned golf club suited to your interests and skill level. Pair it with your dream accommodations and enjoy the complete experience. By now, you may already have a clear answer to the question we posed at the beginning of this article. Or perhaps the answer has always been within you, and now you simply see it more clearly. The view may change from one destination to the next, but the connection between body, mind, and vacation time on the best golf courses in the world is universal. And no matter how long it lasts, it will stay with you forever.
